Chinatown Park

Your Guide

Located just outside the traditional Chinatown Gate at Beach Street, Chinatown Park marks the entrance to Boston's Chinatown neighborhood. Approximately 3/4 of an acre, the park is the largest open space in Chinatown.

The southern portion of the park responds to the vigorous social life of the community by providing an open plaza, a framework for the many festivals, celebrations, and daily activities.

Balancing the paved plaza, the northern end of the park is a serpentine path through gardens richly planted with plants of Asian origin, which provide a respite from the busy city streets.

Welcome

The Chinatown gate provides a welcome to the community. The open plaza provides a venue for a wide range of seasonal festivals, celebrations, and daily rituals.

Image: JP Shadley, Shadley Associates

Sampan Sail

The contemporary red-steel gateway serves as a sculptural counterpoint to the traditional gate at Beach Street. The stylized sampan sail is rendered in stainless steel, metal fabric, and LEDs. In the evening the sail becomes a soft beacon of light.

Reclaimed Seawall Stones

Reclaimed seawall stones that originally formed the wharfs onto which Asian immigrants landed in Boston are now the park's focal waterfall and stream. All are united by the creative use of concrete pavers patterned to evoke the scales of a dragon extending the length of the park.

Image: Carol R Johnson Associates Inc.

A Contemporary Interpretation

The design interprets traditional Chinese elements such as the village festival space, contemplative gardens, gateways, walls, stone, and flowing water, in a contemporary fashion to create a space that is uniquely modern with strong visual references to the past.

Image: Andrew Arbaugh, Shadley Associates

A Serpentine Path

Balancing the paved plaza, the northern end of the park features a serpentine path that passes through a richly planted garden featuring plants of Asian origin. The space provides a respite from the busy city streets.

Image: JP Shadley, Shadley Associates

People Watching

Colorful umbrellas and seasonal planters create an attractive spot to dine, relax, and watch people on a warm summer’s day.

Image: Benjamin Cheung Photography

A Place for Chinese Games

Adjacent to Chinatown Park, Mary Soo Hoo Park, designed by Stephen Stimson Associates Landscape Architects, is an extremely popular sheltered place where residents gather in droves and play Chinese checkers.

Image: Benjamin Cheung Photography

A Ribbon Theme

Chinese Checkerboard Patterns

The pattern of the Chinese checkerboard is also expressed as part of the paving pattern in the major open spaces. Food trucks use the space during daytime hours, creating an ideal space to stop and enjoy lunch.